Academic Progress and Graduation

University Policy

To obtain a bachelor’s degree, most students must have completed a minimum of 128 credits and 32 courses. As a guide for completing the four-year undergraduate program, students should keep in mind that sophomore status usually is attained by satisfactorily completing 32 credits of coursework; junior status, 64 credits; senior status, 96 credits. The number may vary depending on the college of enrollment.

The individual schools and colleges of the University have specific academic requirements and standards for determining satisfactory completion of a program of study (e.g., grades, concentrations, divisional studies).

To graduate, students must apply to their school or college by the deadline stipulated by the school or college.

School of Public Health Policy

Boston University holds an All-University Commencement Ceremony every May. University officials announce specific dates for commencement well in advance. The School of Public Health confers its degrees at its own commencement ceremony, also in May. A reception for the graduates, faculty, and guests is held following the ceremony. September graduates are encouraged to participate in the May ceremony of their choice. January graduates may attend the ceremony held in May following their graduation. Details regarding the Ceremony are mailed to all potential attendees in March.

To qualify for graduation at the School of Public Health, a degree candidate must have completed the degree requirements, must have no outstanding debt to Boston University, and must submit an Application for Graduation Form and a Graduation Audit Form to the SPH Registrar’s Office. Graduation Applications may be obtained from the bookcase located outside of the SPH Registrar’s Office,  Talbot-2 Center; Graduation Audit Forms are listed by year and concentration on the SPH website. Please note: The first step in participating in commencement exercises is filing an Application for Graduation with the SPH Registrar by the required date. Regardless of whether you have completed your graduation requirements, you will not officially graduate from the University unless you apply to graduation.

Tentative graduates must enter their diploma name and address to which the diploma is to be mailed (if applicable) on the graduation website of the Student Link prior to the published deadline for that graduation period. Diplomas that are not granted during the May commencement ceremony will be mailed to the address indicated by the graduate one month after the official graduation date. May graduates will receive their diplomas at the SPH Ceremony should they elect to attend.